Posted byI was wondering if we could talk about deodorant?
I sweat a lot, but I try to avoid aluminum-based deodorants/antiperspirants. I like Tom’s of Maine for non-sweaty days. But I’m a teacher and I usually resort to Secret or something else standard on the days that I’m teaching (teacher pit stains are the worst!).
Sometimes even that doesn’t cut it, but I really hated the “clinical strength” over-the-counter deodorant that I tried.
I would love to hear about other Homies’ antiperspirant solutions — particularly of the offbeat or non-aluminum based variety. -Maryanna
I was wondering if we could talk about deodorant?
I have had problems with sweat since I hit puberty, and I can’t go without some heavy-duty things now that I’m a teacher in the Southwest. Yay for dictating your wardrobe based on what colors you can wear! I think it’s more of a body response than anything else, but when I don’t have to worry about things, I use this:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/35641572/deodorant-cream?ref=shop_home_feat
It is expensive, but it lasts for ages and is very easy to apply. It has some essential oils in it, so check to see if you’re allergic/sensitive. The only time I had any issues with it was when I had a rash that made it impossible to wear ANY kind of deoderant; I just slathered on vitamin E and avoided people during my break that was filled with grading enormous stacks of things. It isn’t an anti-persperant, but it has clay, so it does a decent job of keeping things more dry. I also use Secret during the week. Good luck!
I’m not sure if self-promotion is kosher or not, but I sell products on Etsy, including an all-natural deodorant: https://www.etsy.com/listing/128457001/all-natural-deodorant-creme-1-oz?ref=shop_home_feat
I struggled a long time trying to find a natural deodorant that actually worked (Crystals, Tom’s, straight baking soda, etc.), and finally came up with my own recipe. It’s the only thing that has continually worked for me.
For those that like the DIY route, I know Frugally Sustainable also has a couple recipes on her website for deodorant: http://frugallysustainable.com/2011/11/homemade-probiotic-deodorant-that/
I have been switching around all the hippy non propylene glycol non aluminium one for years. And I think I will probably always be switching!
In the past I used a crystal rock one that worked like pure gold, and I was working nightshirt emergency. One day however it fell out and smashed, and wiping a pointy rock isn’t cool. So I bought a new one and it ceased to work. Lame.
I currently used Desert Essence spring fresh, it’s just a deodorant and it’s an almost creamy soft bar I rub on in the morning. I have gotten quite used to my own scent over time. Now that I don’t work up close to people all night, I feel less conscious.
But I also have a small bottle of Dove’s plum scent in my bag that I will spritz on if I have to go meet some clients.
I have to say that moving from Australia to Canada has made me sweat a lot less!!!!!!
So I don’t shave and I don’t use aluminum deodorant, and I can pretty much assure you that none of them work that well. Seriously, none of them. I’m a petite gal and light sweat-er but there are days I smell and those days happen fairly often. So I’ve developed a system, which is pretty darn effective if implemented daily, and this is it:
Wash your armpits daily. Even if you’re not showering that day, scrub your pits. I do this with tea tree oil Dr. Bronners castile soap.
Put a bit of tea tree oil on your clean, dry pits. I use the straight oil, but Desert Essences also makes a spray that works well. it has witch hazel and rosemary oil too.
After your tea tree oil dries it’s time to apply that aluminum free goodness.
I find that Desert Essences Chamomile Deodorant, though it has no scent, keeps me from smelling pretty well.
Toms of Maine makes my skin literally fall off, so it’s not for sensitive skin, but it does work pretty well. I’ve used the lavender one and the mens “fresh” scented one.
Arm & Hammer’s aluminum free deodorant works amazingly but it has Triglycerides which get into our water sources and poison fish, so stay away from that stuff if that concerns you.
My husband works wildland fire and swears by gold bond foot powder. I was apprehensive at first, but it’s honestly the best dry deodorant / dry shampooing have ever tried.
I’ve been using Burt’s Bees unisex deodorant (I get mine at Whole Foods) for years and have been quite pleased with it. Recently though, I took a chance and have given Schmidt’s Beauty Natural Deodorant (www.schmidtsbeauty.com) a try and love it!
I found Uncle Harry’s Lavender/Tea Tree spray-on deodorant years ago when I was biking to/from work. It was the only thing that worked for me then and so I have been a devoted customer for many years since. I love the smell of it and am constantly getting compliments on how great I smell. It’s so funny to watch people’s reactions when I say “Oh thanks, it’s my deodorant.”
My husband has become a faithful Uncle Harry’s fan as well and uses their Sandalwood/Vetiver deodorant.
They are all aluminum-free, non toxic, essential oil based products. Ingredients of the Lavender/Tea Tree are as follows:
Colloidal silver water
Rose water
Lavender & Tea Tree essential oils
Grapefruit seed extract
I buy mine from my natural health food market, but you can also go to their website:
http://www.uncleharrys.com
I love both of NYR Organic’s Lemon and Coriander and Lavender and Aloe deodorant. It’s a spray and it smells fabulous. I was using Tom’s, but I had to reapply throughout the day and I don’t with this.
*Full Disclosure, I am a consultant for NYR, but even if I weren’t I’d still use this deodorant 🙂
I like Crystal brand. I use the roll-on plus the “stone” variety at the same time. I personally also like to apply a mild alcohol-based body spray, which helps with staying dry and stops smells before they start; but I can’t advise using any product for anything other than its intended purpose.
I use a homemade deodorant, adapted from recipes I found online:
1/3 cup coconut oil
2 tbsp cornflour
1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda
You can add essential oils to make it smell pretty, although I don’t mind it plain – the coconut smell is nice and lasts all day.
I live in Western Australia, where it gets very hot, and I find this recipe better than any commercial deodorant I’ve tried. While it doesn’t prevent sweating, the cornflour and bicarb seem to absorb it pretty well.
The only issue is that you can’t use it right after a shower, so I tend to use plain cornflour straight after I shower.
Maybe if you combine this with looser fitting or dark coloured and patterned tops, as suggested above, it will solve your problem 🙂
I use the lime and sage deodorant from Al verde, one of the brands available at DM (www.dm.de) Only available in Europe as far as a I know. But it does work very well for me.
For strictly deodorant, I use anti-bacterial gel – basic hand sanitizer! It kills the germs that cause odors (isn’t that an old commercial?), and it WORKS. I don’t bother with an anti-antiperspirant, just because it’s gonna come out somewhere, and if it comes out under my arms, as long as it doesn’t stink, I don’t care.
I use Tom’s and it works for me, so I’ve stuck with it, but I recently saw a video where they reviewed about 5 different types of natural ingredient deodorants and they found this was the winner. http://www.herbancowboy.com/
Wish I could find the video, but I don’t remember what site it came from.
I always break out with aluminum deodorants, so I use Arm & Hammer Essentials or Lavanila’s Healthy Deodorant (which I pick up at Sephora).
Lavilin is my favorite. Long-lasting, aluminum- & paraben-free, smells great. They also offer a great foot deodorant as well!
Funk Butter! I’ve been using it for years and it’s the only “natural” deodorant that I’ve found to work on me. A single container lasts a long time, but I usually buy them 3 at a time to save on shipping. That quantity usually lasts me 2 years or more. I find that it has antiperspirant qualities, which is probably because it’s clay based.
http://www.oyinhandmade.com/body/freshen/funk-butter-natural-deodorant-176.html
This deodorant is ahmazing! (Even though it’s a roll-on which, meh.) The bottle says you only need to put it on every other day and that’s almost true. It keeps me from being stinky (like 100% no stink, most aluminum free deodorants leave me smelling, well.. like a hippy for some reason.) and I don’t react to it at all (normal deodorants like Secret give me cysts in my armpits which hurt like crazy.) Lavilin Roll-on Deodorant http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OKD6OH6